Review by Sadonna
TITLE: Monstrous Intent
SERIES: Mischief and Monsters
AUTHOR: Alice Winters
NARRATOR: Michael Ferraiuolo
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 10 hours
RELEASE DATE: January 9, 2023
BLURB:
Declan
It’s really hard to pretend like life is normal when you’re staring a monster in the eyes, though he’s both tempting and irritating in his human form. I put my days as a hunter behind me, unable to cope with the death and pain anymore, to become an upstanding citizen and for what? To assist Lake, a man who claims he’s not a monster but keeps talking about me like I’m edible and–even worse–wants to woo me? Between my old organization trying to pull me in and Lake proving that things aren’t quite what they seem, I’m dragged back into this world of fighting the things that humans fear the most.
Lake
The human is exquisite. The first moment he told me he was going to hunt me down, I felt my heart burst. He’s beautiful, sassy, angry, and going to be mine (even if he thinks he can refuse my charms). But what Declan doesn’t know about me is that there’s a reason I’m hiding as a human among monster hunters. And while he definitely doesn’t know why, he’s willing to work with me because the people around us strangely want Declan and me dead at the end of this (I mean, who would want to kill us? We’re amazing).
But honestly…what’s more fun than dragging a hunter off to the dark side?
Warning: This is a chaotic monster and a chaotic human. Stuff happens. People die (but they were bad, so it doesn’t matter, right?) and there’s plenty of humor alongside a budding romance.
REVIEW:
OMG! This is giving me major Alice Winters happy vibes. If you are a fan of this author’s Hitman series, I think you will enjoy this. It is very funny with another opposites attract theme.
Declan is trying to be an elementary school teacher after he’s retired/left the DRD. He does NOT want to hunt monsters any more. Of course as he’s going to meet a hopeful date, he runs into a monster and has to kill it. This does not make for a meet cute.
Declan loves his job teaching kids, but then a colleague shows up at his classroom and he’s pulled back in supposedly for a consult. But one of the MEs at the DRD, Lake – Declan is SURE he is not human, but in fact is a monster that he should be killing. Which he vows to do 😉 For his part, Lake decides he wants to woo Declan 😀
Lake is hiding in plain sight. Only a few people at the DRD know what he really is. He is set on having Declan for reasons we are not sure of as he starts showing up wherever Declan is. When Declan loses his job, he if furious. He has done his best to leave all the death and destruction behind. He’s tired of watching innocents get killed and having to kill the monsters – the chimera. But all is not as it seems at the DRD and he’s been a pawn in their game for about as long as he wants to be. Perhaps with Lake, he can finally be free of that life.
Declan and Lake go on the run while they try to figure out how to take down the powers that are using/abusing them. Lake thought that he’d be safe there, but in fact that is not the case. There are things neither of them know. While on the run, they enlist the aid of one of Declan’s coworkers as well as a couple of would be pets. Many battles ensue and Lake and Declan get closer 😉 It seems like maybe Declan’s mantra is not so set in stone after all and he may be ok with this one monster.
This story starts off with a bang and we just know Declan’s dream of a boring life as a teacher is just not to be. I knew we were in for some fun right away. Add in monsters, monster hunters, crosses and double-crosses, a pet fish and a pet monster and well, we definitely have the makings of a VERY fun day at the office 😉 I loved Lake and his crazy obsession with his pet Sir Reginald. Declan and his hatred of monsters is tempered some in the end. There are friends and foes and it’s hard to tell who is who some of the time – kept us guessing as to the motivations. There are still many unanswered questions despite a first victory. I can’t wait to see what happens next. FYI – there is a lot of mayhem here and not a lot of smexy times, but hey, who has time when fighting monsters?
Michael Ferraiuolo does his usual stellar job here. I’m not sure who else could do justice to Alice Winters. She has a unique style of writing that demands just the right touch for the comedy and pathos. Mr. Ferraiuolo is the one narrator that I can hear performing her works and know I’m going to get a level raise. Fabulous as usual and I cannot wait to see what awaits Declan and Lake in the next chapter. Hilarious and sweet in a very offbeat and best way. Recommended.
RATING: 
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